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I know you are the typical "hit and run" poster that has no idea about the Korean War and will not come back, but just in case:
Both N. Korea and S. Korea were devastated. The "thanks" goes to only one entity alone - the ones that choose to invade the south - N. Korea leadership. "Our great country" and combined UN forces met the aggression as a result of the United Nations Security Council resolution 83.
The Korean war should be much more covered especially right now since the current situation in Korea traces back to decisions made during the Eisenhower administration.
War is hell but unfortunately sometimes necessary. We fought the revolutionary war to gain our freedom, a civil war to gain the freedom of slaves, and WWII to defeat fascism and to bring an end to the Holocaust.
I don't think the Korean War has been overlooked. There are many well written books in the library by military historians and veterans who were there and fought. But most people don't read and have absolutely no interest in our history.
When I was in the Marine Corps during Vietnam a lot of our senior enlisted men were Korean War vets and I recall their war stories. When I was stationed in Quantico VA there was a group of Chosin Reservoir Marines who got together on a regular basis at the NCO club.
Then of course Korea never had the high drama and global reach of WW2 with D Day in Normandy or the flag raising on Iwo Jima. Toward the end it degenerated almost into the trench warfare of the First World War and even Vietnam with senseless attacks on enemy positions on hill tops that were then abandoned.
I know you are the typical "hit and run" poster that has no idea about the Korean War and will not come back, but just in case:
Both N. Korea and S. Korea were devastated. The "thanks" goes to only one entity alone - the ones that choose to invade the south - N. Korea leadership. "Our great country" and combined UN forces met the aggression as a result of the United Nations Security Council resolution 83.
A fine job we did rolling them back to the 38th parallel but when we pursued them in order to roll back communism, we became the same as them or worse. The Chinese came in only when the UN forces were approaching the Yalu Rive(their border).
It’s funny, but the North Korean view is that we interrupted their “unification”.
Looking back it makes sense. Why do we care if they’re communist or not? China and Vietnam are communist and now they make all our stuff cheap.
A fine job we did rolling them back to the 38th parallel but when we pursued them in order to roll back communism, we became the same as them or worse. The Chinese came in only when the UN forces were approaching the Yalu Rive(their border).
"we became the same as them or worse"? How so? The first rule of warfare is you don't give up the pursuit of an enemy that is in retreat until they are defeated. Pursue them, destroy remaining forces, and capture the command structure. That's warfare 101 to ending a war. Otherwise the enemy would regroup and it would be perpetual war. The only hesitation about crossing the 38th parallel in October 1950 was the response from China and USSR, not on any moral grounds. Of course not. What would happen if allied forces held at the German border in WW2? You seriously think the war would have magically ended?
North Korea was given surrender terms in September 1950 which was unconditional but it did state that the future of N. Korea would be determined in UN council, and with Russia and China in the UN they had a good chance of keeping the status que then. I do not believe there was any response, N. Korea leadership could not accept defeat.
So nope, UN forces determined (correctly) that military expediency and the desire to end the war and bloodshed required them to pursue NK forces across the 38th parallel, gambling (incorrectly) that China would not intervene.
It’s funny, but the North Korean view is that we interrupted their “unification”.
Looking back it makes sense. Why do we care if they’re communist or not? China and Vietnam are communist and now they make all our stuff cheap.
North Korea tells its citizens that they won the war.
The cold war ended long ago, the idealogical battle between communism and capitalism/democracy ended last century. Indeed no one cares, that's not the issue.
Back then of course people did - in the 50's our concern was western Europe, otherwise Korea is really not strategically significant...EXCEPT for Japan.
Currently however the government of NPRK's constitution doesn't even mention communism anymore. It has elements of communism but really it's described as a cult of personality like dictatorship with elements of European-like fascism. Because it embraces this Korean ethnic nationalism it's goal is still reunification with the south, but under there terms.
North Korea tells its citizens that they won the war.
The cold war ended long ago, the idealogical battle between communism and capitalism/democracy ended last century. Indeed no one cares, that's not the issue.
Back then of course people did - in the 50's our concern was western Europe, otherwise Korea is really not strategically significant...EXCEPT for Japan.
Currently however the government of NPRK's constitution doesn't even mention communism anymore. It has elements of communism but really it's described as a cult of personality like dictatorship with elements of European-like fascism. Because it embraces this Korean ethnic nationalism it's goal is still reunification with the south, but under there terms.
I’m not sure why we cared back then either. There are unfriendly dictators all over the world. What difference does their economics system make?
North Korea today reminds me of the Soviet Union. Complete with the goose stepping military parades, red and gold flags, and an insane amount of propaganda.
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